Apparatus for the conversion and transformation of hydrocarbons, liquids and fluids



June 30, 1931; J. HQAD AMS APPARATUS FOR THE CONVERSION 'ANDTRANSFORMATION OF HYDROCARBONS, LIQUIDS AND FLUIDS Original Filed Jan.26, 1916 2 Sheets-Sheet l INVENTOR'.

June 30, 1931. J. H. ADAMS 1,811,334

APPARATUS FOR THE CONVERSION AND TRANSFORMATION AND FLUIDS OFHYDROCARBONS, LIQUIDS,

Original Filed Jan. 26, L916 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTOR.

Patented June 30, 1931 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE JOSEPH'H. ADAMS, 0FBROOKLYN, NEW YORK, ASSIG-NOR, BY MESNE ASSIGNMENTS, TO'THE TEXASCOMPANY, OF NEW YORK, N. Y., A CORPORATION OF DELAWARE APPARATUS FOR THECONVERSION AND TRANSFORMATION OF HYDROCARBONS, LIQUIDS AND FLUIDSApplication filed January 26, 1916, Serial .No. 74,337. Renewed January12, 1929.

This invention relates to a'modified and improved apparatus forconverting liquids, fluids and oils, more especially those of thehydro-carbon group, into products of lower specific'gravity for thepurpose of obtaining from high boiling hydro-carbons low boilingproducts such as naphthas, gasolene and benzine, benzol, toluol andother low specific gravity and boiling products of .both the plain andaromatic series'as carried on by my process, methods and apparatus asdisclosed in co-pending applications Serial Nos. 530,852 filed Dec. 1,1909; 618,011 filed March 30, 1911; 879,907 filed December 31, 1914;17,699 filed March 29, 1915 and 53,377 tiled September 30, 1915. Theseapplications have eventuated, respectively, in" Patents 1,320,354,1,327,263, 1,320,726,-1,320,727 and 1,445,281. 1 a

One object of this invention is to formulate a relatively simple andinexpensive means for applying intense-heat under easy control tohydro-carbon oils While under pressure in excess-of atmospheric for thepurpose of altering their physical and chemical character to apre-determined extent in order to produce by this means products ingreater quantity" than presently obtained by the well known methods offractional distillation or separation processes commonly employed in theart.

Another object in View is to secure simple and inexpensive'parts andfeatures which may be easily assembled into a complete system capable ofcontinuously converting l1ydro-carbons on a commercial basis and inlarge qiiantities.

This invention accordingly, consists in the features of construction,arrangement of parts and method of operation which will be more fullyindicated in the following description and claims.

A pp amtus In order to completely disclose this inven tion to thoseskilled in the art the accompanying drawings, Fig. 1, and Fig. 2. whichwill illustrate the (to-related parts of the apparatus, have beenappended and in which the principal features are lettered from A to Finclusive While like numbers denote corresponding parts throughout thetwo drawings, 7,

These drawings show side and partly sectional elevations of an apparatusembodying horizontal tubes overlying the upper part of a furnace andthrough which hydrocarbon liquids or Vapors are forced and brought intocontact with the intensely heated walls of the tubes for the purpose oftransforming them into products essentially. different from the originaluntreated liquids or oils.

This improved apparatus is based on my former inventions particularlyco-pending applications 530,852 filed Dec. 1, 1909, 618,011, filed March80, 1911, 879,907 filed Dec. 31, 1914.- and 53,377 filed Sept. 30, 1915,

. with which I have successfully converted high boiling pointhydro-carbons into lower boiling products by means of properly ap pliedintense heats and self generated and maintained vapor pressures to theoil or oily vapors without unduly converting, them into large volumes offixed gases; and by means of this apparatus products of a valuablenature can be obtained from inexpensive original oils and distillatcswhile at the same time 7 increased yields of desirable low boilinghydro-carbons can be had to meet the great demand for them in generalcommercial usages.

Referring now to the drawings, Fig. 1, the source of supply A, can besomewhat elevated above the principal apparatus or pump, if so desired,to augment the flow of oil into the converting tubes and dome orseparator C, under the influence of pressure maintained over the surfaceof oil in the tank A, or, by means of pump 5, the oil may be deliveredcontinuously into the converting apparatus 0 under pressure greater thanthat maintained in the system.

-()riginal oil can be admitted to tank through pipe 1, regulated byvalve 2, and displaced air will escape through pipe 3.

Pipe 3, may be connected with an air compressor or high pressure pump,if desired, to maintain pressure over the surface of oil in tank A, butin general practice 1 have found it best to draw oil through pipe 4,-bymeans of pump 5, and force it through pipe 6, into the converter B.

It is best to preheat original oil before admitting' it to theconverting system so that the heat maintained in the furnace B, andconverting tubes 11, may be conserved for the more important function ofoil and oily vapor transformation.

th overflow hot oil and waste furnace heat can be applied to thispurpose by forcing the original oil through heating coils, as shown at 7where the waste heat from furnace B, which passes through primary stack8, before it is exhausted through flue 9, and out into stack 10,pre-heats the ingoing oil to the converting tubes 11.

The drawing shows one of the many forms of tubular converters or stillswhich may be employed in my oil converting apparatus, and such convertercomprises a multiple of tiers of heat enduring tubes 11, constructed ofmaterial capable of withstanding intense temperatures and high pressuresenclosed within the walls of a furnace B, and designed to maintaintherein protracted high temperatures.

The tubular converting tubes 11 are connected in series with terminalfittings and assembled so that each layer or group of tubes will overliethe spaces between those of the layer or group below, in order that theentire nest of tubes may receive the greatest heat elliciency from theheat generated in the underlying furnace and in the path of hot gasespassing from the fire box of the furnace to the flue. The terminal orreturn fittings above referred to are located outside the furnacc wallsin such positions that they may be readily removed in order to exposethe connecting tubes for the purpose of cleaning out any carbon that mayhave been deposited therein during the cracking process.

At the outgoing end of the series of tubes 11, oil is led into anenlarged carbon collecting device or trap 12, where free carbon,aecumulated in the process of oil and oily vapor cracking andtransformation is swept by the circulation of oil or oily vapors in thetubes.

This collecting device or trap 12, is provided with a detachable plate13, for cleaning out purposes, and leading out from the top of thistrap. pipe 14, conducts oil and vapors into the horizontal separatingdome or chamber C, located at the side of, or above the converting tubes11.

Any free carbon which may be held in suspense in the oil within pipe 14,may have a chance to precipitate into collecting device or trap 12, sothat oil or oily vapors led into separating chamber or dome C, will bepartly or wholly frcod from mineral carbon.

The separator C, is provided with a false inner bottom or diaphragmplate 15, perforated with holes in which a considerable number of shortstand pipes 16, have been made fast so that oil admitted above thisbottom or diaphragm plate 15, must necessarily rise to the top of thesetubes 16, before it can overflow into the cavity or basin in the lowerpart of the separating dome G.

The principal object of the plate 15, and

the large number of tubes 16, is to provide greater superficial area forthe rapid separation of lighter from heavier oils in vapor form thanwould be possible from the surface only of a body of oil contained inthe dome or separating chamber 0 and to cause a smaller amount of oil tobe contained in the dome between the upper side of the plate ordiaphragm 15, and top of tubes 16, due to the considerable number ofoverflow tubes which displace the greater body of oil and leave onlythat which is intersticed between these stand pipes 16; thusmaki-ng' itpossible to move the oil in a comparatively rapid flow with assurancesof a more or less perfect separation of the lighter converted oils andvapors from the heavier partially or wholly unconverted oils.

Overflow oil caught in the lower part of separating chamber 0, is ledthrough pipe 17, into the cooling and collecting apparatus D, of which18 is'a cooling coil contained in a tank of cold water and 19 is a traptank in which the partially cooled oil is collected and from which it iswithdrawn through valve 20 into sight box 21 and running tank 22.

From the running tank 22, oil is withdrawn by pump 23 and forced throughpipe 24 to the tank A for re-treatment as before.

In practice it has been found best to lower the temperature of overflowhot oil passing from the converting tubes and drum C, by flowing itthrough the coils of apparatus 18 before returning the overflow hot oilto the tank A. This can be done by regulating the temperature of wateror other cooling medium employ-ed in the tank and in which the coils areimmersed. It has been found that heavy oil at temperatures not exceeding300 to 4-H) degrees F. can be safely returned to a tank of cool oil butit is more or less hazardous to mingle very hot oil or that in excess of500 to (300. degrees F. with cold oil as under certain atmosphericconditions it might ignite or cause spontaneous combustion. Therefore,the apparatus 18 will be found convenient and necessary when operatingthis form of apparatus.

Vapors collected in the upper part of dome C, rise in the tower 25, andare conducted through vapor pipe 26, to the condensing apparatus E. ofwhich '27 are the coils immersed in cold water or other cooling mediumwhich may be the active principle in any forth of condenser.

Condensate accumulated in these coils runs into collecting trap tank 28.from which it is withdrawn into running tank F through v-alve 29, andsight box 80, from which in same uniform pressure throughout thesysfaces to the quantity of contained oil is in tern, that is, the vaporpressures whichthe 01lS.11'1Cl oily vapors are undergoing 1n thisconversion process.

Simplicity. in the operation of this appa ratus is one of its principalfeatures as well as the rapid, continuous and safe method of oil andoily vapor transformation to produce large yields 1 of low boilinghydro-carbon products to augment the supply from natural sources.

The multiplicity of tubular converters presents large surfaces to thefurnace heats in proportion to the amountof oil contained in the tubesprovided the ratio of heating surfavor of theformer. V p This result canalways be obtained by increasing the number of tubes having thecomparatively small diameterof from three to twelve inches, and by soarranging the tubes in the furnace that the proportion of heated surfaceis from four to six or more times greater than that part of the tubeextending through and beyond the walls of the furnace for terminal orreturn fittings.

The continual flow of oil through the tubes in a relatively small streampermits the intense heat to act rapidly and convert high percentages ofthe subjected oil into desirable products and the small quantity of oilcontained within such tubes,' overfiow pipes; cooling coils and traptanks lend the same valuable safety feature to this form of apparatus asclaimed in some of my co-pendingapplications, especially Serial Nos.530,852 and 618,011 heretofore mentioned; for if a break or ruptureoccurred in any part of the a fuel oil burning equipment with burner 37,arranged to deliver oil under pressure atomized with steam or compressedair and a direct low pressure air supply through an underlying pipe orduct 38, gives the best results; for in this method of intense heatgeneration a natural draught need not be depended upon and no matterwhat the weather conditions may be the temperature of the furnace andthe stability of such generated heat can be depended upon to produce thedesired result. A

As a feature of safety on this high pres sure system, the blowoff valve39, is preferably located at a distance away from the converter, eitherabove or below the condensing coils, which latter are placed in freecommunication with the converter tubes 11 and dome C, by means of tower25 and vapor line 26. e

In the drawings, Fig. 2, a vertical type of separator chamber or dome isshown where the inner false bottom or diaphragm 15, is supported on'avertical stand pipe or base. This bottom has a cylindrical open topshell or band made fast to its outer edge, and in holes made in thebottom or diaphragm plate 15, a number of stand pipes 16, are securelyattached, as in the false bottom plate 15, of Fl 1; i

The top of this cylindrical side and the *tubes 16, are the same heightfrom the diaphragm plate 15 ,'so that oil may overflow both the tubesand the sides of the oil containing'well, at the same time, for oilentering the separating chamber or dome C, at the bottom through pipe14, and rising in the stand pipe, designed as a. base to the dome, mustrise to the top of the tubes 16, and sides of; the well before it canoverflow into the cavity at-the lower part of the dome to be conductedout through pipe 17 to the cooling and collectingapparatus D. 5 a

Oil and oily vapors can be -delivered through pipe 14- directlyinto thebase of the dome 0, when the valve 41 in pipe 40 is closed and the valve42 is open; but if, for any reason, it is preferable to deliver oilthrough valve 4-1 and pipe 40 to the top of the well,

then by closing valve 42, this methodof overhead delivery can beaccomplished.) I

In the conversion of parafline gas oil-s, solar oils, certain heavygrades of fuel oils and the distillates heavier than illuminating oilsfrom almost any crude, it is desirable and preferable to employ theoverhead delivery method, so that gases and vapors may pass off from theend of pipe 40, within the dome C, while the heavier partially or whollyunconverted oils may drop into the well to overflow the sides and pipes16 in order that a more perfect separation will take place within thepipes 16, and in the vapor spaces above the well and between the outersides of the catch basin and inside of the shell of dome or separatingdrum C.

When converting light distillates such as illuminating oils, naphthastill bottoms and low grade naphthas into gasolenes and other lowboiling products, it is desirable to feed oil from the converting tubesthrough pipe 14, into the base of separating drum C, through valve 42 orthrough valve 41 and pipe 40, so

I that oil may flow into the top part of the Well and so that crackedoil vapors may condense in the oil contained in the well, and when oiltherein is overflowing the sides and tubes, the lighter parts willseparate out without mechanically carrying over through the imay betermed units, the latter, for some reason, seems to give the mostsatisfactory results in the accumulation and separation of low boilingdistillates carrying large percentages of desirable products.

Mode of operation Having filled the reservoir tank A with original oilto be converted, the pump 5 is operated to withdraw oil through pipe 4and force it through pipe 6, then through preheater coil 7, and into theconverter tubes 11 where it comes in contact with surfaces exposed totheintense heat generated in furnace B.

The rise in temperature generates a vapor pressure, as steam in anenclosed boiler, which pressure overlies the surfaces of oil andoccupies all spaces in the system not occupied by liquid oil, and whichis maintained at a predetermined degree throughout and durin the processoperation.

As t e oil and oily vapors leave the converting tubes they enter thecollecting device or tank 12, where any free carbon may be caught beforethe oil. rises to the separating chamber or dome C through pipe 1 1.

* Heavier partly or wholly unconverted oils overflow the stand pipes 16,which latter are located generously over the surface of the plate 15,and as they flow to the cavity or collecting basin at the under part ofthe dome C, the lighter or converted oils escape in the form of vaporsthrough the upper part of the dome C and tower 25, then through vaporline 26, and condensing apparatus E, and are finally caught incollecting tank F, in the form of distillates after passing through trap28, valve 29 and sight box 30.

The heavier oils flow out from the catch basin at the lower part of domeC through pipe 17, and rise in the cooling coils 18 of apparatus D, thenflow into collecting trap tank 19, and are withdrawn into tank 22,through valve 20 and sight box 21, from which they are in turn withdrawnby means of pump 23 and returned to supply tank A through pipe 24 forre-treatment as before.

"This continuous method of oil and oily vapor transformation in amultiple tubular converting apparatus, I have found to be one of themost satisfactory of the various forms of converters, as more fullydescribed in my former inventions and co-pending patent applications,heretofore referred to, and in the application of intense heat abovethat re- 30 quired merely for the vaporization ofthe particular oilundergoing conversion and in generating and maintaining vapor pressuresof several atmospheres for the purpose of holding down the oils and oilyvapors undergoing conversion as well as to assist in the actualconversion, the best commercial results have been obtained where thevapor pressure is maintained throughout the converting system from thesource of supply through to the end of or beyond the condensingapparatus While the latter is in free communication with the tubularconverting apparatus and other parts of the system under equal pressure:

As this form of apparatus designed for my process of hydro-carbon oilconversion as disclosed in my co-pending application 618,011, filedMarch 30, 1911 is intended to operate continuously and as many minorchanges could be made in the above described construction and manywidely different embodiments of this invention could be made withoutdeparting from the scope thereof with its fundamental and principalfeatures, it is intended that all matter contained in the abovedescription or shown in the accompanying drawings shall be interpretedas illustrative and not in a limited sense.

' It is intended also, that the language used in the following claims isto cover all of the generic and specific features of this invention andall statements of the scope thereof which, as matter of disclosure,should apply to this invention pertaining to an apparatus for thecarrying out of my process for means for discharging products atthe-boting vapors and oil from said device to said tom, ,a carbon andresidue collecting device chamber. connected to said discharge andextending 5. Apparatus for converting high boiling below the point ofdischarge, means for drawhydrocarbon oil into lower boiling products,ing off the collected residue and carbon in comprising a converter, aresidue and car-. said device, a separating chamber connected boncollecting device into which said conto the upper portion of saidcollecting device verter discharges, means for removing the to receivethe vapors and oil therefrom, and residue and carbon, a separatingchamber means for separately drawing off the conprovided with a vaporoutlet in its upper porverted vapors and unconverted oil'from said tionand an oil outlet at the bottom, meansseparating chamber; for conveyingoil and vapors from the upper 2. Apparatus for converting high boilingpart of said carbon collecting device to said hydrocarbon oil into lowerboiling products, chamber, means in said chamber above the comprising atubular oil converter 'mainbottom to receive the oil and vapors suppliedtained at a cracking temperature, means for from said carbon collectingdevice the said continuously supplying oil to one end of said receivingmeans being so constructed as to converter under pressure, means fordiscontain a layer of oil of substantially concharging products at theother end thereof, stant depth and being provided with means a carbonand residue collecting device confor permitting the overflow ofoil atnumernected to said dischargeand extending below ous points into thebottom portion of the the point of discharge, means. for drawing ofl.chamber. v r the collected residue and carbon in said de- 6. Apparatusforconvcrting high boiling vice, a separating chamber connected to thehydrocarbon oil into lower boiling products, upper portion of saidcollecting device to recomprising a converter; a residue and carbonceive the vapors and oil therefrom and means collecting device intowhich said converter for separately drawing oil" the converteddischarges, means for removing theresidue vapors and unconverted oilfrom'saidcham- I and carbon, a separating chamber provided er. wit-havapor outlet in its upper portion and -3. Apparatus for converting highboiling "an oil outlet at the bottom, means for conhydrocarbon oil intolower boilingproducts, veying oil and vapor-s from the upperzpart ofcomprising a tubular oil converter mainsaid carbon collecting device'tosaid chamtained at a cracking temperature, means for her, means in saidchamber above the bottom continuously supplying oil to one endof saidtoreceive the oil suppliedfroin'saidcarbon converter, under pressure,means for. discollecting device including a'plate provided chargingproducts at the other end thereof, a WithIsh-o'rt, upwardly extendingpipes procarbon and residue collecting deviceconnectjecting-therethroughto permit the overflow ed to said discharge and extending below the.ofvl-oil intothe bottom portion of said chan1- point of discharge, meansfor drawing off her whenithe oil reaches a certaindevelv the collectedresidue and carbon in said de- 7..In-a'n oil converter, a separatingchamvice, a separating chamber connected to the vber providedwith avapor outlet ,at the top upper portion of said collecting device toreand an oil outlet at the bottom, a false botceive the vapors and oiltherefrom, means for tom or plate extending across said chamberseparately drawing off the converted vapors above the bottom,a series ofpipes extending and unconverted oil from said chamber, and asubstantially uniform distance upwardly means for maintainingsubstantially uniform from; said plate furnishing overflowpassagesuperatmospheric vapor pressure in said conways and means forcontinuously supplying verter, collecting device and separating-to theupper side of said plate intermingled chamber. hot oils and vapors to beseparated. i

4. Apparatus for converting highgboiling 8. In an oil converter,-aseparating chamhydrocarbon oil into lower boiling products, ber providedwith a vapor outlet at the 'top comprising a furnace, a tubularconverter and an oil outlet at the bottom, a. false botmaintained at acracking temperature and tom or'plate extending across said chambercomprising sections extending through opabove the bottom, a series ofpipes extending posite furnace Walls and connected by rea'substantiallyuniform distance upwardly movable fittings to facilitate the removal ofy from said plate furnishing overflow passagecarbon deposited in saidsections, means for .ways, means for heating oil in a substantiallysupplying oil under pressure to one end of continuous stream underpressure to a crack said converter, means for discharging the ingtemperature, means for separating out heated products at the other endthereof, a carbon and residue from said product and residue and carboncollecting device into means for discharging the balance of saidwhichsaid products are discharged extendproduct into said chamber above saidplate. ing below the point of discharge, means for 9. In an oilconverter, a separating chamremoving the residue and carbon collectingber provided with a vapor outlet at the top in said device, a separatingchamber mounted and an oil outlet at the bottom, a false bottom outsidesaid furnace and means for convey or plate extending across said chamberabove the bottom, a series of pipes extending a sub stanti'ally uniformdistance upwardly from said plate furnishing overflow passageways, meansfor heating oil in a substantially continuous stream under pressure to acracking temperature, means for separating out carbon and residue fromsaid product, means for discharging the balance of said product intosaid chamber above said plate, a condenser connected 'to the vaporoutlet of said c-hamber, and means for maintainingsubstantially uniformvapor pressure in said converting means, carbon separator, chamber andcondenser.

10. Apparatus for converting high boiling hydrocarbon oil into lowerboiling pro ucts, comprising a furnace, a tubular oil converter thereinmaintained at a cracking temperature, means for continuously supplyingoil to one end of said converter under pressure, means for dischargingproducts at the other end thereof, a carbon and residue collectingdevice Outside of said furnace connected to receive said dischargedmaterial, a separating chamber outside said furnace connected with theupper portion of said carbon collecting device and means for separatelywithdrawing oil and vapors from said separating chamber.

11. A continuous tubular oil treating apparatus comprising a nest ofheating tubes, a chamber connected in circuit with said tubes, adiaphragm in the chamber dividing the same into upper and lowercompartments, said diaphragm being provided with open passagewaysconnecting the compartments,-

the entrance to said passageways in the upper compartment being abovethe level of said diaphragm, means for continuously supplying liquid tothe heating tubes, means for withdrawing liquid from the lower part ofthe chamber and means for withdrawing vapors from the upper part of saidchamber and condensing the same.

12. A continuous tubular oil treating apparatus comprising a nest ofheating tubes connected in series, an enlarged separating chamber, adiaphragm dividing said chamber into compartments, means forcontinuously supplying oil to said apparatus so as to cause the oil intransit to progressively flow through the heating tubes,a carbon andresidue collecting device connected with the discharge end of theheating tubes, a pipe leading from said device to the separating chamberabove said diaphragm, means for withdrawing liquid oil from said chamberand means for withdrawing the vapors.

13. A continuous tubular oil treating apparatus comprising a nest ofheating-tubes connected in series, an enlarged separating chamber, adiaphragm dividing said chamber into compartments, means forcontinuously supplying oil tosaid apparatus so as to cause the oil intransit to progressively flow through the heating tubes, a carbon andresidue collecting device connected with the discharge end of theheating tubes, a pipe leading from said device to the separating chamberabove said diaphragm, means for withdrawing liquid oil from said chamberand returning it to the tubes for retreatment.

l4pApparatus for converting high boiling hydro-carbon oil into lowerboiling products, comprising a tubular oil converter maintained at acracking temperature, means for supplying oil to said converter at thetop, means for discharging products at the bottom, a carbon and residuecollecting device connected to said discharge and extending below thepoint of discharge, means for drawing off the collected residue andcarbon in said device, a separating chamber connected to the upperportion of said collecting device to receive the vapors and oiltherefrom, means for separately drawing off the converted vapors andliquid oil from said chamber, means for condensing the converted vaporsand means for returning the liquid oil to the converter for retreatment.

15. Apparatus for converting high boiling hydro-carbon oil into lowerboiling products, comprising a furnace, a tubular converter in saidfurnace maintained at a cracking temperature, a source of oil supply,means for continuously forcing oil from said supply under pressure intothe upper end ofsaid converter, means for conveying the heated productsfrom the bottom of said converter to a point outside of said furnace, aresidue and carbon collecting device into which said products aredischarged extending below the point of discharge, a separating chamberat a higher level and connected to the upper portion of said residue andcarbon collecting device means for separately and continuously drawingoff the converted vapor and liquid oil from said chamber, means forcontinuous 1y condensing the vapors under pressure and means forcontinuously returning the liquid oil to theconverter.

16. Liquid phase apparatus for converting high boiling hydrocarbon oilinto lower boil ing products, comprising a tubular converter maintainedat a cracking temperature and a superatmospheric pressure, a carbon andresidue-collecting device connected to the end of said tubularconverter, a separating chamber connected to said device for separatingthe evolved vapors from the unconverted liquid oil, means forcontinuously forcing a stream of oil under pressure through said tubularconverter, device and separating chamber and returning the unconvertedliquid to said converter for retreatment, and means for withdrawing theseparated vapors from said separating chamber.

17 Apparatus for converting high boiling point, hydrocarbon oils intolower boiling products that comprises a single elongated tubularcracking coil Composed of a plurality of pipe sections connectedtogether at their ends in series relation and arranged in vertical tiersof rows or layers one above the other, means for rapidly forcing oilunder pressure through said cracking coil, a furnace disposed beneaththe cracking coil for heating the coil to raise the oil to a crackingtemperature in transit therethrough tobe cracked therein, an enlargedunheated zone disposed outside of the furnace in free and opencommunication with one end of said cracking coil and containin a body ofhot liquid oil delivered thereto rom said cracking coil, said enlargedzone comprising a lower portion into which the cracking coil deliversthe oil and in which heavy residual oil and carbon accumulates and anupper portion into which the hot oil rises, means to establish a liquidlevel in the upper portion of said zone from which the separation ofvapors takes place, a draw-off connected to the lower portion of saidenlarged zone for removing heavy residual oil and carbon, and a vaporline connected to the upper portion of said zone above the liquid levelfor removin the separated vapors.

18. pparatus for converting high boiling hydrocarbon oil into lowerboiling products that comprises an elongated tubular cracking coilcomposed of a plurality of pipe sections connected together attheir endsin series relation, means for forcing oil rapidly through said crackingcoil, means for heat ing sald cracking coil to raise the oil in transittherethrough to a cracking temperature, an enlarged unheated collectingchamber disposed outside of the heating zone and connected to thedischarge end of said coil in which a body of highly heated oil collectsand the velocity of flow is retarded and in which heavy residue andcarbon resulting from the cracking operation precipitate, and a vaporseparating chamber into which cracked prod ucts from the enlargedcollecting chamber are delivered comprising an intermediate tray orpartition having a plurality of short pipes projecting upwardlytherethrough around which a shallow pool of oil accumu: lates on thetray and through which vapors from the space below pass in heat-exchangerelation to the shallow pool of collected oil on the tray, means forremoving the evolved vapors from the space above said pool and means formaintaining superatmospheric pressure on the oil under treatmentthroughout the apparatus.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature. JOSEPH H. ADAMS.

